[ONLINE>>] Today: Blackpool - Wigan live 15 April 2023
Wigan Athletic 2-1 Blackpool highlights and Michael Appleton reactionBlackpool lost a key game in their bid for survival against Wigan Athletic The Seasiders played their part in a physical first half with neither side really taking command and a red card to Marvin Ekpiteta for a last man challenge at the back looked like it would turn the balance. Yet, Blackpool looked the more organised and composed side after that point for the remainder of the opening 45 minutes. Gary Madine provided the moment of magic to open the scoring as he turned Jack Whatmough and fired home past Jamie Jones to give Blackpool an important lead in a key game in their fight for survival. Kenny Dougall shifted to centre half after Ekpiteta's sending off, yet the Seasiders remained aggressive and took risks out of possession to open up opportunity against a sloppy Wigan outfit. Blackpool weren't able to hold on to that lead for much longer into the second half as James McClean's corner appeared to evade everyone in the box and nestle into the corner of the net past Chris Maxwell to put the scores level.
From that equaliser, Wigan continued to push for a winner continuing to utilise the space in wide areas. As the pressure continued to mount, Wigan found the breakthrough in the 88th minute as Curtis Tilt's header sailed past Chris Maxwell to give the hosts the three points and send Blackpool into the relegation zone. 18:01Sean McginlayAppleton on board backingI'd like to think so. Like I say, it's easy to be critical in the moment and emotional in the moment but I think if you look at the season so far as a whole, what's transpired, how things have happened, I think sensible people make sensible decisions. 17:58Sean McginlayAppleton on fan chants for him to be sackedNo but it's understandable that's football, I've been in this game for the best part of 30 years now, I'm 47 in December and I've been playing as a player since the age of 16 and I know what it's about.
17:54KEY EVENTAppleton reactionListen it's been a story of a period of time now over a good couple of months where what could go wrong has gone wrong. It's made life very, very difficult there's no doubt about it, I thought we were really comfortable in the game 17 minutes in, I know we hadn't scored at that point but I do believe it was only a matter of time. The pace we had in the wide areas and obviously in that transition when we turned the ball over, Jerry, Gaz and Shayne looked really, really lively and then obviously the sending off happens and the game changes. FT (2-1)KEY EVENTFT: Wigan 2-1 BlackpoolBlackpool were always going to have to dig in after the red card but it was two deliveries from wide that they couldn't deal with in the end after Gary Madine's moment of magic in the first half.
'Sacked in the morning' rings out from the away end towards Michael Appleton. 88' (2-1)KEY EVENTGoal Wigan 2-1Blackpool don't deal with the delivery into the area and Curtis Tilt rises to head home. 84' (1-1)Sean McginlayRiding the waveBlackpool have continued to ride spells of pressure but seem to have come through it unscathed after the equaliser. They've found an outball in recent minutes as Wigan grow frustrated unable to find a brekathrough. 55' (1-1)KEY EVENTGoal Wigan 1-1James McClean's corner appears to evade everyone in the area and beat Chris Maxwell.
All square. 46' (0-0)Sean McginlaySecond half underwayWe're back underway at the DW Stadium and we've had a referee change. HT (0-1)KEY EVENTHT: Wigan 0-1 BlackpoolThe Seasiders have played very well since the sending off, look organised out of possession remaining aggressive but streetwise. Gary Madine's moment of magic makes the difference but Blackpool have capitalised on Wigan's slack play in important moments. 34' (0-1)KEY EVENTGOAL BLACKPOOL 0-1Gary Madine with an unreal strike after he brushes Jack Whatmough aside and half volleys past Jamie Jones.
Blackpool vs Wigan Athletic live stream, score and H2H Blackpool vs Wigan Athletic (Championship) will kick off at 07:00 on 15 Apr 2023, in TBD at Bloomfield Road (Blackpool, Lancashire). Live Sports